GB2101105A

GB2101105A - Container closure means

Info

Publication number: GB2101105A
Application number: GB08217471A
Authority: GB
Inventors: L David Leiter
Original assignee: West Co Inc
Current assignee: West Pharmaceutical Services Inc
Priority date: 1981-06-24
Filing date: 1982-06-16
Publication date: 1983-01-12
Also published as: US4385707A; DE3144861A1; FR2508419A1; DE3144861C2; GB2101105B; JPS581662A; JPH0128036Y2; CA1166189A; FR2508419B1; JPS61137553U

Description

1

SPECIFICATION

Container closure means This invention relates to a closure means for a container and to the combination of a closure means with a container. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a closure means for use with a small container, in the nature of a serum via], which allows the sealed vial to be opened in much the same manner as an all-glass ampoule but without any glass breakage, prior to filling of a syringe from the vial. However, the closure means of the invention is suitable for other small con- tainers, for example containers for single dose medications for oral use, serums, single dose powder products, and other single use pro ducts, and also for containers of larger size.

Both the closure means, and the containers with which they are used, are designed pri marily to be non-reusable, inexpensive, secu rity proficient, and safe in operation of re moval of the enclosure means from the body of the container, in the absence of container breakage.

Numerous types of containers, in combination with closure means therefor, have heretofore been devised, and some have provided for ease of removal of the closing means from the container.

The containers and their closure means can be constructed of different materials, and the specific structures differ substantially, as re- gards the intercoaction of the closure means with access openings of the containers.

Different types of container, having different types of closure means, and adapted to contain small quantities of materials are found in numerous different specific forms and configurations. The manner in which the containers are opened is of substantial significance, especially in regards to those containers adapted for use in the medical field for containment of medicines, serums or the like. In addition to ease of opening, the structures must ensure against breakage and/or contamination of the contents of the container.

Some such containers and closure means GB 2 101 105A 1 container and surrounding said closure seal and an elongate narrow top portion secured to the bottom portion, the cap and closure seal being conjointly rernovable as an integrated unit from a container by application of a lateral tilting force against the elongate top portion at a position thereof remote from said bottom portion.

In one embodiment of the enclosure means in accordance with the invention, the bottom portion of the cap comprises a downwardly open skirt on the lower end of said top portion, said closure seal being contained within said skirt and being operatively engage- able with the access opening of a container. In use of this embodiment, the skirt is frictionally and detachably mechanically engaged with, and surrounds, the container exterior about the access opening. The skirt encloses and positionally maintains the closure seal in closing and sealing engagement with the access opening.

The skirt may be formed integrally with the top portion of the cap, the entire cap being made, for example, of metallic material. Alternatively, the top portion of the cap may be secured to the skirt, for example by means of an adhesive or by a snap-fit connection. In this case the top portion of the cap may be made of a plastics material, and the skirt may be made of metallic material.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a container having an access opening is provided with a closure means in accordance with said one aspect of the invention, with the closure seal of the closure means closing said access opening. In one embodiment of such a combined container and closure means, the container has a finish around said access opening and the bottom portion of the cap is in the form of a skirt. The lower edge of the skirt is crimped around said finish to removably fasten the cap to the container.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a partly sectioned side view of a container provided with one embodiment of a closure means according to the invention, have not fully met the requirements or desires 115 Figure 2 is a partly sectioned side view of a of users in various usage fields. Some of the prior constructions have been complicated and expensive in construction. Other constructions have introduced problems of breakage of the container when opening for access to the 120 lines, contents thereof.

The present invention aims to provide a closure means for a container which can be removed easily and rapidly from a container modified embodiment of the tip-off cap of the closure means shown in Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a plan of the cap of Fig. 2 with its position during removal shown by broken Figure 4 is a partly sectioned side view of another embodiment of the tip- off cap of a closure means according to the invention, Figure 5 is a partly sectioned side view of a with a substantial guarantee of the absence of 125 further embodiment of the tip-off cap of a breakage of the container material.

According to one aspect of the invention, a closure means for a container comprises a tipoff type cap and a closure seal, said compris- ing a bottom portion connectible with the closure means according to the invention, comprising a metallic component and a plastics component, Figure 6 is a sectional side view of a 130 modified form of the plastics component of 2 GB 2 101 105A 2 the cap shown in Fig. 5, Figure 7 is a plan of the cap of Fig. 5, and Figure 8 is a sectional side view of another modified form of the plastics component of the cap shown in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1, the numeral 10 designates a container in the form of a glass serum vial. The container 10 has the usual access opening 12 at its open top or end. In the absence of a stopper or seal over the opening 12, access to the contents of the container is provided, regardless of the nature of the contents. Peripherally surrounding the access opening 12 is the normal container finish 14 of known bead-like configuration.

The container 10 is shown provided with closure means comprising a tipoff cap 16. The cap 16 is preferably of an all metallic exterior construction and, as shown, includes a tubular, elongate, top portion 18. Integrally formed with the portion 18 is a hollow, bottom skirt portion 20 of larger cross-sectional area than the portion 18. The lower peripheral edge of the skirt portion 20 is adapted to be crimped around and under the lower surface of the finish 14, as generally indicated at 22.

A stopper 24 of rubber or the like material is inserted and contained within the skirt portion 20 and includes an enlarged head 26 having a cross-sectional shape which is commensurate with the interior cross-sectional shape of the skirt portion 20. The bottom 28 of the stopper is of a size to engage snugly and sealingly within the access opening 12 of the container 10.

The composite tip-off cap and stopper shown in Fig. 1 may be formed, prior to connection with the container 10, by inserting the head 26 of the stopper within the peri- 105 pheral skirt portion 20 and operatively inte grating the material of the stopper with the material of the cap, such as by adhesive at the position generally indicated at 30. A typi- cal structure would consist of a disc of hotmelt type applied to the top of the stopper head 26 before application of, and crimping of, the lower peripheral edge of the skirt portion 20 at 22.

Normally, in practice, the metallic cap 16 is shipped to the ultimate user with a disc of hot-melt film adhesive bonded to the underside of the sholder between the portions 18 and 20 of the cap, but without a stopper 24.

The user will fill the container 10, seal it with a loose stopper 24, apply the combined cap/hot-melt sub-assembly over the stopper 24, crimp the skirt portion 20 of the cap under the finish 14 and, lastly, bond the cap 16 to the stopper 24 by thermal activation of the hot-melt adhesive.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the top portion of the cap is preferably all metallic, for example aluminium, although as will appear hereinafter, other materials can be utilised and 130 different details of interconnection with sealing or stopper means are contemplated. The crimp formed at 22 effectively interengages the various components of the tip-off cap with the container 10. The finalised construction is shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

The tip-off cap 16 is pried off laterally from the container 10 by the hands of the user, as indicated in Fig. 1 by the chain lines 1 8A.

This is accomplished generally by application of a lateral force against an upper region of the elongate top portion 18 of the cap. In essence, this removal is the same as utilised for the top or removable portion of a glass ampoule, which is broken off by the force applied thereagainst.

Removal of the cap 16, as indicated by the chain lines 1 8A, is accomplished by an uncurling action of parts of the crimped lower edge of the skirt portion 20 (Fig. 3). The uncurling occurs during opening of the container by force of the user's hands, multiplied by the mechanical advantage, or leverage, obtained due to the elongate top portion 18.

Since the portion 18 and the stopper 24 are integrated by the adhesive, as the tip-off cap 16 is removed the stopper 24 is removed as a unit with it, the bottom 28 being retracted from the access opening 12. A slight distortion of the crimpled portion can take place (Fig. 3).

In essence therefore, the closure means of the invention serves the function of closing and sealing a container, such as a frangible glass serum vial, and yet permits easy opening of the container by application of a force by a user's hands. The structure allows for the full removal of the cap and stopper from the container to provide access to the contents of the container. The possibility of breakage of the glass, or other material, during this opening is obviated, eliminating risk of cut fingers and/or glass particles in the contents of the container, with substantial pharmaceutical ad- vantages. The design and functioning of the closure means are quite simple. It is also to be noted that this construction opens just like the known glass ampoules, primarily due to the elongate, top portion of the cap. Thef cap can, of course, be manufactured by wellknown processes, and with known machinery. The stopper is of a known and used type.

Fig. 2 shows a slightly modified form of the cap of Fig. 1, in which the enlarged, peri- pheral skirt portion, corresponding to the skirt portion 20 in Fig. 1, is designated 32, and is provided with a plurality of controlled scores 34, partially through the material, in the lower edge of the skirt portion. The scores 34 provide for ease of removal of the cap by lowering the tip-off force required laterally against the top portion of the cap. The construction and operation are otherwise the same as in the case of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

3 GB 2 101 1 05A 3 Fig. 4 shows another modified form of the cap of the closure means, wherein the skirt portion 36 has formed therein an interrupted circumferential score line 38. The score line 38 creates a tamper indicator crimp feature similar to that used on screw- type caps. Funtionally, when the closure means is to be removed, and a lateral force is applied against the elongate top portion of the cap, the ma- terial of the skirt will break along this circumferential score line 38. Any attempts to reseal, or conceal the fact of an opening of the container, will be visually, readily apparent in this form of construction.

Figs. 5 and 7 show a two-component version of tip-off cap, comprising a finned insert 40 of plastics material, which is interengaged with a metallic bottom skirt portion 42, preferably constituted of metallic material similar to that used in the embodiment of Fig. 1. The plastics insert 40, which includes a plurality of fins 52, is similar in functional operation to the tubular, elongate top portion 18 of Fig. 1. The plastics insert 40 and skirt portion 42 are locked together via a snap lip 44 in engagement with the inner edge 46 of a central opening 48 in the skirt portion 42. Since the skirt portion 42 is of metallic material, it can be effectively and simply drawn in cup form with a blanked centre hole therethrough. If desired, one or other of the scoring features shown in Figs 2 and 4 may be incorporated in the skirt portion 42.

The plastics insert 40 has a full disc area 50 which permits, and is adapted for, a maximum operative integration, such as, for example, by an adhesive bonded contact with the top of a stopper, such as indicated at 24 in Fig. 1. X The plastics insert 40 has numerous, advantageous features. It can be easily made as an injection moulded component and attractive coloration or color coding, can be incorporated into the plastics material. As noted above, a maximum bonding area with the 110 stopper can be provided for, and a rapid mechanical "snap" assembly with the metallic skirt portion 42 can be accomplished.

Fig. 6 shows a plastics insert 54 which may be used in place of the insert 40 in the twocomponent cap of Figs. 5 and 7. The insert 54 is of shell type, and its features are basically the same as the insert 40 of Fig. 5, but as opposed to the latter, it has a smooth, clean, outer surface 56 without any fins. The snap lip feature remains the same as that of the insert 40 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 shows another plastics insert 58, which may be used in place of the insert 40 in the two-component cap of Figs. 5 and 7. The insert 58 is tubular, with an open top, which makes it easier to mould than the inserts of Fig. 5 and 6. Like the embodiments of Figs. 5 and 6, the insert 58 can be made with colour coding, and like the insert 54 of Fig. 6 it has a smooth, clean, outer surface 60. The insert 58, which is provided with a base 62 having a maximum integrating or bonding area with a stopper, also has a snap lip feature, like the inserts of Figs. 5 and 6, which permits rapid mechanical assembly with the metallic skirt portion, such as indicated at 42 in Fig. 5.

It is noted that the different structural em- bodiments of the invention, as shown and described, each incorporate, for example, an upstanding or elongate, relatively narrow, generally tubular ' of cylindrical, top portion, terminating in a substantially flat flange area, and a peripherally larger skirt, the lower edge thereof being adapted to be crimpled under the container finish, A conventional rubber stopper, having a plug portion engaged in the opening in the container, is operationally inte- grated with the top portion. Adhesive means is provided at their junction point.

The substantially flat flange at the bottom or base of the elongate top portion serves the important role of compressing the,stopper or closure means to create a seal with the mouth of the container. The overall purpose or result of this construction is that, upon tilting, or tipping, of the cap in the manner shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, it serves to remove the sealing stopper from the access opening as an integrated portion of the composite structure and the access or discharge opening in the container is thereby opened.

While a particular rubber stopper configur- ation has been shown in the drawings, variations therein will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A closure means for a container comprising a tip-off type cap and a closure seal, said cap comprising a bottom portion connectible with the container and surrounding said closure seal and an elongate narrow top portion secured to the bottom portion, the cap and closure seal being conjointly removable as an integrated unit from a container by application of a lateral tilting force against the elongate top portion at a position thereof remote from said bottom portion.

2. A closure means according to claim 1, in which said closure seal is secured to the cap by an adhesi ' ve.

3. A closure means according to claim 1 or 2, in which said bottom portion of the cap comprises a downwardly open skirt on the lower end of said top portion, said closure seal being contaiped within said skirt and being operatively engageable with the access opening of a container.

4. A closure means according to claim 3, in which the lower edge of said skirt has a plurality of peripherally spaced-apart scores therein.

5. A closure means according to claim 3 4 GB 2 101 105A 4 or 4, comprising an interrupted circumferen tial score-line in said skirt, and constituting a break line for detection of attempted piferage or for the detection of possible container con tent contamination.

6. A closure means according to any of claims 3 to 5, in which said skirt terminates in a substantially flat upper interior, flange-like surface, and said closure seal includes a disc portion operatively integrated with said flange like surface.

7. A closure means according to claim 6, in which said closure seal includes a closure plug extending downwardly from said disc portion for insertion in the access opening of a container.

8. A closure means according to any of claims 3 to 7, in which said closure seal is made of a rubber material.

9. A closure means according to any of claims 3 to 8, in which the top portion of said cap is made of metallic material.

10. A closure means according to any of claims 3 to 5, in which said skirt includes an upper portion having an opening there through, and said top portion of the cap is made of plastics material and has a disc at its lower end, said disc being attached to the upper portion of said skirt to integrate the composite cap parts during assembly.

11. A closure means according to claim 10, in which said disc is attached adhesively to the upper portion of said skirt.

12. A closure means according to claim or 11, in which the top portion of the cap is a snap fit in the upper portion of said skirt.

13. A closure means according to any of claims 10 to 12, in which the exterior of the top portion of said cap is plain surfaced.

14. A closure means according to any of claims 10 to 12, in which said top portion of the cap has a multiplicity of external ribs thereon.

15. A closure means according to any of claims 10 to 13, in which the top portion of said cap is hollow.

16. A closure means according to claim 15, in which the top portion of said cap has open top and an open bottom.

17. A closure means for a container, con structed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figs 1 and 3, or Figs 1 and 3 as modified by Fig. 2, Fig. 4, Figs 5 and 7, Fig. 6 or Fig.

8 of the accompanying drawings.

18. The combination of a container have an access opening and a closure means ac- cording to any of the preceding claims, with the closure seal of the closure means closing said access opening.

19. A combination according to claim 18 when dependent on any of claims 3 to 14, in which said container has a finish around said access opening, the lower edge of said skirt being crimped around said finish to removably fasten said cap container, said lateral tilting force serving to uncurl, at least partially, the crimped edge for release of said cap from said container.

20. A combination according to claim 19, in which said skirt exerts access opening sealing pressure on said closure seal.

21. A combination according to any of claims 18 to 20, in which the container is a glass via].

22. The combination of a container and a closure means therefor, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to Figs 1 and 3, or Figs 1 and 3 as modified by Fig. 2, Fig. 4, Figs 5 and 7, Fig. 6 or Fig. 8, of the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd -1983 Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained-